Local groups offer free admission to Delaware State Fair for canned goods donations

Tuesday

Jul 15, 2014 at 4:15 PM

On July 21, at the Delaware State Fair, attendees who bring five Food Lion brand canned goods will receive free admission to the Delaware State Fair from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day.

By Staff reports

Three local groups are taking advantage of the Delaware State Fair to raise canned goods for the third annual Food Lion Feeds Hunger Relief Day.

On July 21, at the Delaware State Fair, attendees who bring five Food Lion brand canned goods will receive free admission to the Delaware State Fair from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day. Food Lion, the Delaware State Fair and the Food Bank of Delaware have partnered for the third year for this initiative.

“At Food Lion, we believe no one should have to choose between dinner and paying rent or gasoline and buying groceries,” said Bob Mills, Food Lion director of execution and implementation for the Dover, Del., area. “That’s why we’re so passionate about our renewed focus on ending hunger and working to make the lines shorter at local feeding agencies through Food Lion Feeds.”

Last year’s program provided about 17,000 meals for families in Kent and Sussex counties, and Mills said he hopes this year will exceed those numbers. Chad Robinson, director of the Food Bank of Delaware’s Milford branch, said the initiative has collected more than 42,000 meals throughout the past two years.

“Our goal this year is to pass last year’s amazing number and hopefully bring in more than 27,000 meals,” said Danny Aguilar, assistant general manager and director of marketing for the Delaware State Fair. “This is such an amazing project to be a part of and we thank Food Lion for making this food drive possible through its partnership with the Delaware State Fair.”

Volunteers will accept donations at all gates. No items stored in glass will be accepted. Some of the Food Bank’s most needed items include canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups, tuna fish, peanut butter, canned meats and cereal.

For more information about the Delaware State Fair, visit delawarestatefair.com. For more information about Food Lion, visit foodlion.com or foodliion.com/feeds. For more information about the Food Bank of Delaware, visit fbd.org or call (302) 292-1305.